Depression is a mental condition that causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness and loss of interest. Antidepressants are prescription medications used to treat depression symptoms. For some patients, antidepressants can cause side effects like...
Antidepressants work by helping to balance natural chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. This may result in improved moods for many patients with depression and anxiety disorders....
Major depressive disorder and mild, chronic depression affect approximately 18 million adults ages 18 and older in the United States, according to 2010 information from the National Institute of Mental Health. People with depression experience...
The use of antidepressant drugs in children is a topic that does not always have a clear-cut recommendation. The National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) has found in studies that the benefits of antidepressant medications might outweigh the...
The brain consists of a series of interconnected cells (called neurons) as well as the cells that protect and support the neurons. Neurons are responsible for the activity in the nervous system, which means that in the brain they control...
As described by the National Institute of Mental Health, antidepressant medications come in many types and include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, commonly called SSRIs, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs,...
Patients with depression may take antidepressant medications to relieve their symptoms. Different types of antidepressants exist: reuptake inhibitors, polycyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. All of these antidepressants alter...
Depression is defined as a sense of hopelessness, helplessness and futility and it takes many forms. Situational depression is a response to a sad event or a series of losses. Dysphoria is a generally saddened mood and major depressive disorder...
Depression is a disorder in which an individual has major depressive episodes that include symptoms such as loss of interest and pleasure in hobbies or work, sadness, weight changes, and trouble sleeping. Several medications are available for...
In the modern era antidepressant medications were introduced in 1949, according to Grinnell College, with the advent of lithium and then iproniazid in 1953. This became the first widely used antidepressant. There have been many classes of...
Prescription antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as are all prescription drugs. Abuse of prescription drugs occur when the patient takes the medication in a manner or at a dosage other...
Unwanted weight gain can make some wonder if taking an antidepressant is worth it. The most commonly prescribed antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, may cause weight gain because serotonin directly affects appetite, according...
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a common side effect of many medications including antihistamines, some antidepressants and drugs used to treat epilepsy, nausea, asthma and acne. Without treatment, dry mouth can lead to sores in the mouth, cracked...
Albuterol is a prescription bronchodilator used to alleviate chest tightness and breathing difficulties, particularly in patients with asthma. The contraindications for albuterol are limited, but patients should always discuss their medical...
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), the serotonin precursor 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) shows some promise as a holistic treatment option for depression, fibromyalgia, migraine and other chronic conditions. However, like...
The promoters of Wobenzym N market it as a dietary supplement that supports muscles, tendons, joints and the immune system. The product, which has been around since 1960, is a blend of pineapple and papaya enzymes as well as pancreatic enzymes....
The development of medications to treat disease remains an important aspect of the advancement of medical science and the alleviation of disease-related suffering. Many Americans routinely use prescription and over-the-counter drugs to treat an...
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are antidepressants used to treat atypical depression when all the other antidepressants drugs have failed, according to Netdoctor.co.uk. MAOIs are not a first line treatment for depression because they often...
Sexual side effects are a common complication of antidepressant drugs for both men and women. For reasons not fully understood, antidepressants can have a negative impact on almost every aspect of sex, including libido, arousal, stimulation and...
A variety of prescription antidepressant drugs are available to treat depression and anxiety disorders. While these drugs are highly effective in treating depression, they are often associated with side effects such as headaches, weight gain and...
Cymbalta is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI. This type of antidepressant affects the levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine by inhibiting their re-absorption in the brain. Many other drugs...
According to the National Institutes of Health, about 2 million of the 35 million Americans age 65 or older suffer from depression. Another 5 million suffer from less severe forms of depression. Drugs called antidepressants work to normalize brain...
Doctors prescribe antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication for anxiety or depression. Some patients suffer from more than one disorder and benefit from certain medications that treat both anxiety disorders and depression. Some of the new...
Tinnitus refers to a medical problem in there is a sensation of sound in the ears. The Mayo Clinic says that this sound can be a buzzing, ringing, roaring, hissing or clicking. It says that its risk factors include being male, Caucasian, being...
Hypericum perforatum, commonly known as St. John's Wort, is an herbal remedy people primarily use for treating anxiety, depression and insomnia. Many side effects are possible, such as dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, headache, increased sensitivity...
Chasteberry is nothing new; it was used in ancient times to treat gynecological symptoms and to decrease sexual urges. Today this herb is still taken internally for many purposes from reducing hot flashes to relieving the pain of endometriosis....
Sertraline, better known as the brand-name drug Zoloft, is an antidepressant medication available by prescription only. Lysine is an essential amino acid that you obtain by eating protein-rich foods. Lysine is also available in supplement form....
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental illness that causes inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. ADHD typically begins in childhood but can continue into adulthood. Additional research and awareness has prompted...
According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 20 million people in the U.S. have some form of depressive disorder. Everyone experiences a down or depressed mood now and then, but true depression is a serious mental illness and involves...
Constipation is the condition of experiencing hard feces which are difficult to pass. Learn remedies and treatment options for constipation in this health video.
